My Mum has secondary breast cancer in her lungs and is so suffering with breathlessness. The operation went so well but is now suffering with her breathing. The oncologist said to take steroids for 6 weeks but the GP took her off these "weaning" them down each week. The breathlessness has returned and is really bad.
How long does it take for steroids to work?
Have you taken them for any length of time?
Apart from oxygen, is there anything else in a tablet form that will help?
Does it mean the cancer is spreading if the breathing isn't any better?
Any help is so appreciated, I am really desperate to help her and feel my life has fallen apart. Thank you so much for any information or replies.
Do the aromatose inhibitors stop the growth of cancer cells, any info again is most welcome. Thank you so much! xx
FormerMember
My mum had her steroid inhaler for a good proportion of the time she was alive - she had very severe COPD and tumours on her left lung- we don't know if it spread to anywhere else, but what I would say is give it a chance. It helped my mum's breathing a fair bit, as we knew that her left lung had collapsed all by itself with the tumours and obviously she had a diseased right lung, but she kept going for quite a while and I think it helped her breathing to the extent that it settled things for her.
Well the reasons could be many - its impossible for us to diagnose what is wrong with your Mum - why dont you give the cancerbackup nurses a ring tomorrow and ask them - I know that they will reassure you and may give you some tips/advice too - its freephone 0808 800 1234. In general if you are breathless sitting up is easier than lying down so make sure she has loads of pillows to support her. The steroids will only work while your mum is taking them - so maybe she needs to go back on them again? I dont know - but keep blogging here so we know how you and your Mum are doing - best wishes and good luck, Hugs, Jools xxx
I really appreciate your comments and so sorry to hear about your Mum. My Mum has gone back on the steroids now and her breathing seems so much better. She can now manage to use the loo and bathroom so at least this is a step forward. I too hope that my Mum will keep going for quite some time to come - that would be amazing.
Not coping at all with all of this, my Mum has always been my rock - probably like yourself.
By the way the only thing that worked for my lungs was Radiotherapy - which was given to treat my sternum but inadvertantly cured my cough and shrank some lung tumours - they dont give RT to the lungs routinely but you never know if it would help or is possible for your mum unless you ask. Good luck, J xx
